With his bushy white beard, rosy cheeks and twinkling eyes, Eric Schmitt-Matzen is known for putting smiles on children's faces as Santa Claus.

The Tennessee man has brought plenty of joy to kids over the years while working hundreds of events, but it was a heartbreaking encounter with a little boy earlier this month that has remained on his mind.

Schmitt-Matzen then did his best to comfort the boy. He broke down in tears as he recalled the moment.

"I said, 'Can you do me a favor?' Sure. When you get up to those pearly gates, just tell them you're Santa's number one elf."

"I am?"

"You sure are. I'm sure they'll let you right in."

"They will?"

"They'll just take you up and give you a big hug."

"He just kind of looked up at me and he says, 'Santa can you help me?''' Schmitt-Matzen said. "And that's when he passed."

Schmitt-Matzen then felt the boy go limp.

"I looked back to the window, and that's when the mother started yelling and screaming,'' he said. "They came running in, I handed them their son and I took off running, literally. (I was a) basket case for three days after that."

Schmitt-Matzen, who is a mechanical engineer when he's not playing Santa, thought about giving up his role as St. Nick after the boy's death.

But he decided to continue because of the joy it brings to so many children. According to the News Sentinel, he worked an event shortly after the boy's death.

"When I saw all those children laughing, it brought me back into the fold,'' he said. "It made me realize the role I have to play."